The closest synonym for the word "essential," as it is used in the article, is necessary.
At age 16, Reginald Dwayne Betts was transferred to a cell by himself in a men's prison. He was facing several days and nights away from any other person. "Somebody, send me a book!" he cried. A few minutes later, somebody slipped something under his door. It was a collection of poems titled The Black Poets. The teen eagerly began to read.
This was an important moment for Betts. It was the catalyst that helped him turn his life around. Today, Betts is helping other inmates do the same. He started Freedom Reads. It's an organization that puts 500-book libraries in prisons across the United States.
"I realized that a poem can give somebody a whole world of hope," Betts said on the Freedom Reads website. And he wanted to help others discover the path to freedom that books can offer.
Betts had always loved to read. And he had been an honors student in school. Yet, for reasons he still struggles to understand, he tried to steal a car. No one was hurt. But it was a serious crime. And he was sentenced to nine years in prison for it.
Reading became essential for Betts as the months and years passed. Books were his daily companions. They took him beyond the hopelessness of prison life to other worlds and ways of being.
Betts was released from prison in 2005. He was 24 years old. Afterward, he worked hard to continue his schooling. He earned two college degrees. Then he studied law at Yale Law School. Betts became a lawyer, author, and teacher. He also got married and had kids.
Despite those achievements, Betts could never forget his time in prison. And what he couldn't escape he chose to face by starting Freedom Reads in 2020.
The organization's motto is that "Freedom begins with a book." Its goal is to set up Freedom Libraries in 1,000 prisons across the country. The books are carefully chosen. They are kept on shelves that are custom-built from beautiful hardwood.
Many can speak to the difference Freedom Reads makes. This includes James Washington. He was an inmate who now helps build Freedom Reads bookshelves. Washington said that being in prison can make people feel bad about themselves. But Freedom Reads changed that for him. Now he feels like he has a purpose.
Betts received a special award for his work in 2021. But that's not why he does it. "People don't understand how many of us sought to become more than our crimes," he said. "I do not believe that a book alone will grant a person wings, but the hope…is that someone will turn a page, and with the turning, transform."
Think about and discuss these questions:
Why do you think Betts chose the name "Freedom Reads" for his organization? Use information from the article to support your ideas.
What have you read that has made a difference in your life?
QUESTION 3
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Which is the closest synonym for the word essential, as it is used in the article?
tiring
interesting
necessary
difficult
1 answer